Summary:
Zip code 06610 in Bridgeport, CT contains 9 schools serving approximately 4,421 students, with 7 elementary-level schools (PK–8) and 2 high schools, all within a district ranked in the 4th percentile statewide and facing significant economic challenges.
The standout school in this area is Bullard-Havens Technical High School, which dramatically outperforms Warren Harding High School in nearly every category: a 99.0% graduation rate versus 80.7%, chronic absenteeism at 19.9% versus 46.1%, and a student-teacher ratio of 9.9 versus 19.9. Among elementary schools, Multicultural Magnet School leads the zip code with the lowest chronic absenteeism (9.2%) and the highest state percentile rank (38th), achieving above-state-average proficiency in 6th grade ELA (76.6%) and math (70.2%) despite an 89.7% free/reduced lunch rate. Six-Six Magnet School also stands out with the lowest poverty rate (44.7%), above-state 6th grade math proficiency (52.5%), and the highest per-student spending at $16,693. Traditional neighborhood schools like Beardsley School, Thomas Hooker School, Edison School, and Hall School all rank in the bottom 15th percentile and report chronic absenteeism above 26%.
Chronic absenteeism is the most pressing issue across the zip code, with 7 of 9 schools exceeding the state average of 16.4%, and Warren Harding reaching a troubling 46.1%. Magnet and technical schools within the same neighborhoods consistently outperform traditional schools, demonstrating that school model and structure matter significantly. Higher spending does not guarantee better results — High Horizons Magnet School spends the least ($11,359) but outperforms schools spending over $16,000 per student. While most proficiency rates fall well below Connecticut averages, the success of Multicultural Magnet shows that high poverty does not have to determine outcomes, offering hope for what is possible in this academically challenged area.
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